It has been a while since I read a good science fiction / horror mash-up. Since this is one of my favorite genres of reading, I was really excited to make my way through Skin Deep: The Matrioshka Brain by Rian Miller and Tony Sedani. Skin Deep is one of five books published by Stockpile Comics, including Rian Miller's Mangull, Tony Sedani's Return to Rander, Rian Miller's and Jesse Munoz's Broken Legacy and Joel Lolar's Forever Winter.

This creepy and suspenseful tale starts off with an unsuspecting lab assistant named William Combs. Combs applied for the job without any real scientific background, which was just what Dr. Elias Gale was looking for. Gale was hoping his new lab assistant didn't know his or her science, because he could order the lab assistant around and have more control over him or her. As Gale shows Combs around his lab, he introduces him to his greatest creation, the Matrioshka Brain! The Matroishka Brain is a machine that acts like a dyson sphere and can harness the energy of a star to use for inter-dimensional travel!

Art by: Tony Sedani

Time goes by, William is trained to operate the machine, and he witnesses all sorts of inanimate objects such as bottles of soda, soccer balls and plants, sent to other dimensions, with their inter-dimensional counterparts "beamed" back to the lab. However, when the inanimate objects are not enough to continue military funding, Dr. Gale takes it upon himself to do human testing.. on his own person! With the help of William, Dr. Gale makes a successful voyage to another dimension and back again!

Art by: Tony Sedani

However, inter-dimensional travel is not without its side effects! The next evening when Dr. Gale is making love to one of his students, he notices his skin is starting to come loose! It doesn't take long for the student to realize this either, as Gale's skin is starting to fall right off, and skin and blood are pouring all over the girl. Tony Sedani's artwork captures all of that gore horror fans are sure to be looking for! All that Dr. Gale can do at this point is stand there in horror, as the girl that was once crazy for him is now horrified and disgusted, What has happened to Dr. Gale? I for one cannot wait to find out in issue #2 of Skin Deep! With an excellent plot written by Rian Miller, blending sci-fi and horror masterfully, and eerie top shelf artwork by Vigilant Geek Award winner Tony Sedani, (Return to Rander), this is one publication that should not be missed!!

Art by: Tony Sedani

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